The economics of crime prevention: An Australian perspective

Despite a growing body of evidence that demonstrates the cost effectiveness of some crime prevention approaches, the focus on the costs of crime and the benefits of preventative approaches continues to be limited, and the large-scale adoption of such programs is still relatively rare. In this paper the author will discuss trends in evidence-informed practice in Australia – the good and the bad. Recent work completed by the Australian Institute of Criminology will be used to highlight some of the positive uses of economic arguments and the role it is playing in crime prevention policy and program development.